he had ever heard. Valentine replied, that indeed he could not but own her afflictions were in some respects more violent than Cynthia's; but then she had enjoyed some pleasures in her life, for, till she was eighteen, she was happy; whilst poor Cynthia had been teased and vexed ever since she was born; and he thought it much worse to live continually on the fret than to meet with one great misfortune; for the mind generally exerts all its force and rises against things of consequence; while it is apt, by the neglect of what we think more trifling, to give way and be overcome. Cynthia and Camilla said that indeed they had always thought their own misfortunes as great as human nature could bear till they had heard poor Isabelle's story.
As they were thus engaged in this discourse, they perceived, at a little distance from them, the river all covered with barges and boats of various sizes; and, on inquiry, found the cause of it was to see six watermen, who were rowing to Putney for a coat and badge. Minds so philosophical as theirs immediately reflected how strong a picture this contention of the six boys is of human life; the eagerness with which each of them strove to attain this great reward is a lively representation of the toils and labours men voluntarily submit to, for the gratification of whatever passion has the predominancy over them. "But these poor fellows," said Cynthia, "have in view what they really want, and justly think of the value of the prize which will be of real use to them; whilst most of the things we see people so eager in the pursuit of have no other good in them but what consists chiefly in fancy.
"Could the ambitious man succeed in all his schemes, if he would seriously consider the many toils and hazards he has gone through to come at this beloved height and grandeur, he certainly must conclude the trouble greatly overweighed the gain;
